LI Summer Showdown '28s: Standouts from the Tri-State Area

Photo: Sean Sadayasu (@seanfromsingapore.photography) | Allowing a number of top programs to end the summer with a bang, the Long Island Summer Showdown once again served as the final stop of July's club circuit for many, providing players with one last opportunity to showcase their skill sets. While the event welcomed programs from all over the country, there was no shortage of talent from Long Island and elsewhere in the tri-state area. In this piece, we'll take a closer look at five standout performers from New York and New Jersey.    DePietro may not necessarily be the biggest cat, but he plays far bigger than he is and is a tenacious competitor and bona fide winner in every sense. An All-County pick for the state champs, DePietro has speed that kills, getting from one restraining line to the other faster than just about everyone in the '28 class. Naturally, he's a tremendous asset in the clearing game — watch a few plays of his football highlight reel and the punt return clears won't come as a surprise. DePietro never fails to initiate contact and makes life difficult for opposing dodgers, even guys that tower over him. He's incredibly reliable in between the lines when it comes to gobbling up GBs in traffic and pushing transition, then makes appropriate decisions with the ball in his stick. While his size may be unassuming, his game speaks loudly, and I'd imagine he's on plenty of Division I coaches' boards as a shortstick defensive midfield recruit.     BBL has a workmanlike offense that, despite lacking star power, has several guys who take turns having big games. Early in Tuesday's 2028 action, it was Gonzalez's turn, as he posted a hat trick in impressive fashion. Watching Gonzalez over the summer, his effort is always felt, whether that's without the ball, on the ride, or from a dodging perspective. He's a tough kid who displays soft hands inside, plays with both hands, and finishes appropriately. Though he favors low releases (and often utilizes low-to-low finishes), Gonzalez does a nice job mixing up his placement and can score in a variety of ways. He scored fading away from the cage, on inside rolls, off the catch, and more. He's comfortable behind the cage, but also worked well from the high wing when called upon to do so, and he's great at capitalizing on poor approaches. Having posted 24 goals and 18 assists as a sophomore, his best lacrosse is ahead of him.     Jerome could have just as easily been included in <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2026/07/class-of-2028-stock-risers-at-the-nlf-summer-championships/">Friday's post about the stock risers from the NLF Summer Championships</a>, as he certainly continued to boost his recruiting profile with another standout performance. He turned in another impressive outing up the road at the Summer Showdown to complete a big stretch between a breakout junior season — Jerome posted 40 CT's, 82 GB's, plus 13 goals — and the summer circuit with one of the top teams in the '28 class. He teams up with a likely five-star at LSM, which is to say that teams have a hard time getting much of anything going with their midfield dodges regardless of which pole is out there. He possesses a hunter's mentality and plays with a nasty disposition, constantly picking pockets, scooping up the groundball on the first attempt, and then darting upfield. He can land checks with his feet moving at full speed and is impactful when sliding as well. I love the grit and skill set he provides, and feel as if he'll help whichever program lands him.     I developed an even greater appreciation for Madden's game this past week. He's a relentless dodger who consistently applies pressure to the opposition, whether he's attacking downhill, sweeping across the top, or creating from behind the cage. Often demanding a longpole matchup, he also does a great job taking advantage when matched up with a shorty, and his first step and shake have proven to be tough for them to handle. Madden is a heady player who makes the right decision every time, and he's exceptional when dodging to feed as well. His rollback is difficult to stop, and he has a knack for getting back to the middle to get his hands free and for knifing through defenses for hard-nosed goals. Plus, he's a tough customer when he's stuck on the defensive end and can provide the clamps there if need be. I have a feeling that he'll find a nice home this fall, as he checks a lot of boxes in terms of what coaches look for in offensive weapons.     While I must admit that I wasn't familiar with Ranieri's game heading into the summer, I certainly left Long Island as a fan of what he brings to the table. Playing with an ever-present edge, he's a fundamentally sound and hard-charging dodger who continually won his matchups and proved to be a tough cover, as he showed a nice repertoire when dodging and finishing topside. Even when facing some of the better club teams, he attacked with aggression, showing off his excellent hands, superb body control, and nose for the goal. A dynamic dodger who can fill up a stat sheet and make it look pretty along the way, he just generates so many quality shots and keeps mistakes to a minimum. He was always under control and making the right reads, and also brought effort in the riding game. After putting together a nice season with the Friars' JV, Ranieri stacked up some excellent performances on the summer circuit, and appears to be a player who could potentially crack the varsity's starting attack unit as a junior.

Photo: Sean Sadayasu (@seanfromsingapore.photography) | Allowing a number of top programs to end the summer with a bang, the Long Island Summer Showdown once again served as the final stop of July's club circuit for many, providing players with one last opportunity to showcase their skill sets. While the event welcomed programs from all over the country, there was no shortage of talent from Long Island and elsewhere in the tri-state area. In this piece, we'll take a closer look at five standout performers from New York and New Jersey.